Remarkably, after stating Tevez would never play for City again following their infamous bust-up in Munich in September, Mancini and Tevez stand on the brink of patching up their differences.

Striker Tevez has been frozen out at City since his refused to warm up during a Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich three and a half months ago.

The Argentinian came close to moving on in last month's transfer window, but despite being linked with AC Milan, Inter Milan and Paris St Germain, nothing materialised.

The realisation has perhaps dawned if City are to get a sizeable fee for Tevez in the summer he needs to be playing, and it is best if he and Mancini clear the air.

Asked about the prospect of Tevez returning to Manchester this week in the wake of his side's 1-0 win at Aston Villa, Mancini said: "I don't know. I hope so, yes.

"I don't have any problem and the club doesn't have any problem. Finish. It's up to him. Carlos knows everything, he knows the situation.

"I spoke with Carlos one week after Munich. He knows everything.

"We are here. We've not changed these past few months and Carlos knows that. He is a City player."

Mancini has made it clear, however, that he fully expects Tevez to say sorry, adding; "This is normal.

"Then after Carlos can train, can play, as long as his condition is good."

Given the furore over the lack of a handshake yesterday between Manchester United's Patrice Evra and Liverpool's Luis Suarez, Mancini made light of the prospect of one between himself and Tevez.

"It's a bad moment to talk about shaking hands," joked Mancini.

He then more seriously added: "But always (he will shake hands), because I forgive all the people all the time."

Centre-back Joleon Lescott's 63rd-minute strike was enough to send City back to the top of the Barclays Premier League in a game they largely dominated until the closing few minutes.

After barely conjuring a chance worthy of the name for 88 minutes, Villa should have levelled, only for Carlos Cuellar to plant a free header over the bar while Joe Hart pulled off a stunning save to deny Darren Bent.

Despite that, Mancini refused to suggest Hart is one of the best in the world as he said: "Joe is a good 'keeper.

"He is young, he needs to improve, and he can become one of the best 'keepers in the world."

Asked if he was not up there already, Mancini replied: "No. He has played three seasons in the Premier League, so how is it possible?

"When a player is young he needs to work a lot, to improve every day, and although he has improved a lot in the last three years, he is only 24, so he needs time.

"If we say he is now one of the best keepers then it's bad for him."

After watching Hart deny Villa a share of the spoils and condemn his side to a fifth defeat in seven home matches, manager Alex McLeish was forced to disagree.

"He is young, but he is already an England international goalie," said McLeish.

"He is going to be around for a long time to come and experience is going to make him even better.

"But he is probably in the top five goalies in the world. I would say he is, yeah.

"I wouldn't say there was a lot better than Joe Hart. Mancini's opinion might be different to mine."

With Villa just seven points off the relegation zone, McLeish's woes are compounded by the fact centre-back Richard Dunne faces at least a month on the sidelines after seemingly dislocating his right shoulder.

With Ciaran Clark also out for a period of time after damaging knee ligaments in training yesterday, McLeish added: "We've a specialist in looking at him (Dunne).

"I'm not sure what is going to happen with the big 'un, whether he is going to go to hospital tonight or whatever, or what they do when a shoulder is dislocated, whether they stick it back in.

"I can't give you an answer just now, but I do believe he is going to be out for at least a month, so that's serious enough."